Even thoughSonic the Hedgehog 2’s wedding subplot was divisive, Shemar Moore’s return as Randall inSonic the Hedgehog 3is more than welcome. 2022’sSonic the Hedgehog 2expanded on the first film in all the right ways and was a hit with audiences. However, the “human B plot” was once again a controversial part of the film, similar to the first movie. At the beginning ofSonic 2, Tom and Maddie go to their friend Rachel’s wedding in Hawaii, leaving Sonic all by himself to get into trouble.
While the wedding Tom and Maddie are at doesn’t initially seem to be that important, and just serves as a way to separate Sonic from his human family,it becomes a much more central part of the plot when it’s revealed who Rachel is marrying. Rachel’s partner, Randall, actually has a secret identity and is using her to get close to Sonic. Newcharacter posters forSonic 3confirm that Shemar Moore is part of theSonic the Hedgehog 3castalongside the Wachowski family.
Shemar Moore’s Randall Return In Sonic 3 Means Sonic 2’s Subplot Wasn’t For Nothing
Randall Works For GUN
Even though theSonicfranchise has a complicated relationship with human characters, is good that Randall will be returning in theupcomingSonic the Hedgehog 3. After Tom and Maddie leave to go to Rachel and Randall’s wedding inSonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic gets hunted down by Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik. Sonic is saved by Tails, and the two of them travel to Serbia during their search for theMaster Emerald.
Randall’s return inSonic 3means that the wedding subplot ended up having a larger importance in the series after all.
While in Serbia, they use a portal to teleport to the wedding, narrowly avoiding an avalanche. Finally, Sonic has reunited with Tom and Maddie, and this is exactly what Randall wanted. In a twist, it is revealed thatRandall is actually an undercover agent of the Guardian Units of Nations (GUN).
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Randall’s relationship with Rachel was part of his organization’s plan to make contact with Sonic. However, Maddie and Rachel successfully fight off the various GUN agents at the wedding, allowing Sonic and Tails to escape and continue their search for the Master Emerald. Since the race to find the Master Emerald is the main plot ofSonic 2,Randall and the GUN agents don’t play a big role in the rest of the film.However, Randall’s return inSonic 3means that the wedding subplot ended up having a larger importance in the series after all.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s Rachel Marriage Subplot Wasn’t Really A Problem
The Wedding Subplot In Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Was Entertaining
Even though Randall and the GUN agents did not play a major role in the climax ofSonic the Hedgehog 2, it was surprising that many had a problem with the wedding subplot. The scenes that took place at the wedding were quite entertaining and showed off the comedic talents of actors James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, and Shemar Moore.The wedding subplot also didn’t take up that much screen time in the movie, so it’s not like scenes featuring more prominent characters like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Dr. Robotnik were cut to fit the subplot in.
Sonic 3’s New Post-Credits Tease Is Setting Up A Major Problem For The Franchise’s Future
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will continue the best trend from the last two movies, but it will be impossible to keep this going after the third movie.
Audiences are always going to be more invested in the main storyline of the movie, especially when larger-than-life characters like Sonic and Knuckles are involved. The search for the Master Emerald storyline inSonic the Hedgehog 2had higher stakes, but the wedding subplot provided some much-needed moments of levity in the movie. Furthermore,the Guardian Units of Nations is a notable organization in theSonicfranchise, so it was clear that Randall could end up becoming a recurrent character in the movies.
The Sonic Movies Wouldn’t Be What They Are Without The Human Characters
The Sonic Movies Need Human Characters Like Randall
The main draw ofSonicmovies will always be the titular hedgehog, along with characters like Tails, Knuckles, andShadow the Hedgehog. However, the Sonic movies would not work as well as they do without human characters. Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik has been an intriguing villain throughout the Sonic series, and Tom, Maddie, and Rachel have been helpful and supportive allies for the Blue Bur. Therefore,it is okay for Sonic movies to continue to introduce new human characters.
The latest trailer forSonic 3suggests that Rachel, Maddie, and Tom will infiltrate GUN.
Finding the right balance between showing characters and lore from the games and telling original stories is always difficult, particularly for movies that are aimed at the entire family likeSonic the Hedgehog.The target audience of theSonicmovies is not just the dedicated fans of the franchise, which is why it is important to have side stories and human characters with whom audiences can connect.Knuckleswas also criticized for focusing on human characters over its titular hero, but hopefully,Sonic the Hedgehog 3will nail that balance.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
